Shafer Memorial Park

Boonsboro features multiple recreation areas in and around the community.  The largest of these is Shafer Memorial Park, which can be found directly behind our museums.

The park was dedicated in 1939 and dedicated to the town’s first Burgess (the town leadership role later replaced by Mayor) Jonathan Shafer, who had operated his tannery business on the land in the early 1800s.

The initial construction of the park was a project of the Works Progress Administration, a civilian-operated government employment program during the Great Depression similar to the Civilian Conservation Corps in function.  The land was donated to the town by Mary Shafer, descendant of the late Burgess.  Over the years, improvements and changes have been made to the land.

in 2005, additional land was added to the park after the purchase of the former Warrenfeltz property (where our museums sit).  Several buildings were removed, others such as the Ice Factory and Canning Factory had been removed in the decades before.  Shafer Park Drive which travels alongside the Trolley Station passes through the front corner of the old Canning Factory site, and was one of the reasons for this land acquisition by the town. Improvement of the town water system also was involved in this project, as the Warrenfeltz Spring located behind the Road Museum and now diverted to a nearby pump house serves as a portion of the town water source.

Shafer Park (outlined in yellow) consists of a significant portion of public access land. A paved walking path (indicated in green) provides access to the various park amenities. Our museums are in the top right of this image.

Shafer Park Today

The park is a mix of developed and undeveloped open space.  It features ball fields, paved paths and trails, playground equipment, pavilions, restrooms (in season) and a frisbee golf course, in addition to open fields and designated wildlife areas.

In addition to park amenities and athletic programs, Shafer Park is home to the local Boy Scouts facility, the Boonsboro Community Center, the Boonsboro Police Department, and the Boonsboro Free Library.  Behind the library is a small stocked fishing pond designated for children and seniors only.  A youth fishing derby is held there every year.

Throughout the year, Shafer Park hosts free musical performances, movies in the park, Greenfest, the weekly Farmers Market, Lions Club BBQ Chicken fundraisers, the Boonsboro Rescue Company Carnival, the end of the James Shaull Wagon Train, Food Truck Festival, Boonesborough Days, and other community events.